William e



(No Model.)

W. E. T MERRILL. BUCKLE.

Patented Nov. 11,1890.

Wzlinesses $M4 JKMVSQ WM IS PETERS my, mom-umu, wAsmNuToN. n, c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. T. MERRILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO XVILLIAM A. LAVERTY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,432, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed September 5, 1890. fierial No. 368,991. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM E. T. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a cheap and simple form of buckle of such character that, while the strap or band held thereby will be firmly retained under ordinary circumstances, it can be readily adjusted in the buckle when desired. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- 1 Figure I is a perspective view of my improved buckle. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts detached from each other, and Figs. 3 and 4: are sectional views on a larger scale, the parts in Fig. 4 being shown in a different position from that illustrated in Fig. 3.

The buckle comprises two parts A and B, A being the body of the buckle and B the clamping-lever,

The bodyA consists of a rectangular plate slightly bent or curved longitudinally and having a serrated rib a struck up therefrom and projecting forward on the concave side of the plate, the striking up of this rib forming in the plate above the rib a slot b.

The clamping-lever B of the buckle consists of a piece of wire bent to form the bearing-bar d, offset ends 6, side bars f, and a lower bar at the center of which is a depending hook h for the reception of the usual small ring on the waist'strap of the suspenders. The strap or band 02 passes through the slot 1), over the serrated edge of the bar a, and thence down under the bar (Z of the lever B, as shown in Fig. 4?, and the side bars f of the clamping-lever 13 pass through openings@' in the plate A of the buckle, and are free both to slide and to swing in said openings, so that on slackening up the pressure on the lever B the same can be moved upward and outward, so as to carry the bar (1 away from contact with the strap as, as shown in Fig. 3, and the said strap is then free to be moved up or down through the plate A for purposes of adj ustment. \Vhen, however, the lever B is drawn down as far as the offset portions e of the same will permit, the swinging of the lever in the openings 1 causes said bar d of the lever to press down upon the strap and hold it firmly in contact with theserrated bar a, so 5 5 that any slipping of the buckle is effectually prevented.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the body of thebuckle having a slot and projecting rib, with the lever having a cross-bar for bearing upon the strap, opposite side bars free to slide and swing in openings in the plate and having laterally-oifset portions for restricting the downward movement of the lever and serving as fulcrums for the same, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the body of the buckle 7o bent longitudinally and having a slot and a projecting rib on its concave side, with the lever having a bearing-bar, opposite side bars free to slide and swing in openings in the plate and having laterally offset portions 7 5 serving as stops and fulcrums for the lever, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM E. T. MERRILL.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERICH, HARRY SMITH. 

